Racism, Politics, and the Media

“I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

What is racism? According to Webster, racism is a belief that some races are by nature superior to others. Racism is also discrimination based on such belief. The bitter fruit of racism is well documented: ethnic cleansing, slavery, deportation and even outright extermination (genocide), the defamation of entire people, hate crimes including torture and murder, cruel discrimination, separation, and segregation. Less severe, but no less offensive, are the prejudices, partiality, and unkind words that come from anyone who is a racist.

I have never been racist and am extremely disgusted by anyone who is. I often wonder what makes someone racist, while others are not. Is it taught or caught? I can’t even imagine being discriminated against just because of the color of my skin. Unfortunately, it is part of our history and is still alive today.

I grew up in the 70’s when racism was still prevalent, and as a young girl, did not understand why. Even though I was never the target of racism, I did witness and was subjected to it. When I was growing up I had two stepfathers (both deceased) who were racist, and even called me names because I dated males of color. This angered me deeply and I resented them for it. Even as a young adult in the 80’s, it seemed that interracial relationships were still not widely accepted. Today it is refreshing to see my daughters' generation become more color blind!

I am a Conservative and a FOX News viewer, however, I do venture off to other news media, including CNN and MSNBC. I am open-minded and I don’t always agree with my political party, thus I prefer to get the news and political commentaries from both sides (left and right—Liberal and Conservative). That way, I can form balanced opinions on issues (political or not) of the day.

Her words penetrated my soul and are clear in my mind today, “…this is about hating a black man in the White House…this is racism straight up…nothing but a bunch of tea-bagging red necks." Garofalo was referring to the Tax Day Tea Party which took place on April 15, 2009, in which hundreds of thousands of citizens gathered in more than 800 cities to voice their opposition to out-of-control spending at all levels of government.

During this interview, she continued to mock Conservatives; "this is about racism", "these guys hate that a black guy is in the White House", "these people…Fox news loves to foment this anti-intellectualism", "the Conservative movement has now crystallized into the white-power movement", "right wing has….there’s no shortage of the natural resources of ignorance, apathy, hate, and fear”, “who else is FOX talking to, what is it, urban, older white guys and the women who suffer from Stockholm Syndrome.”

Garofalo is a hostage to her own deranged opinions — straight up! I was appalled by this woman’s words and I resented her implication that everyone who disagrees with President Obama is a racist. Equally disturbing was Keith Olbermann (as usual), savoring every moment of this interview. But Countdown with Keith Olbermann is all about bashing Bush, Conservatives, and FOX News anyway!

Even if you did not agree with or take part in the Tax Day Tea Party, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that this assembly had nothing to do with racism. Is Garofalo that ignorant (or is it just hate for the right?) to think that just because people gathered all over the USA to speak out against the massive spending (the bailouts, the stimulus with all the pork, the budget, and more to come) by this current administration, that they are all racist? I realize that there were a few ignorant, ugly racists in some of the Tax Day Tea Party crowds, and I’m sure you will find some in both the Republican and Democratic Parties, but does one bad apple spoil the whole bunch?

I was delighted and extremely moved that we finally elected an African-American for our President, however, I just wish he were a Republican. I am a Conservative who happens to disagree with President Obama, not because of his skin color, but because of his policies. Does that make me a racist? I was offended too that some Americans were called “un-American” when they spoke out against President Bush and the war in Iraq. It is American to speak out when we think our government is doing something wrong, because it is “we the people” who make up this nation, and it is through our speaking out that we can sustain what is good about America, change what is bad and fulfill the vision of our forefathers – “to form a more perfect Union”.

I am grateful for our constitutional right to free speech, However, when are we going to get to a place in our political system when our words and assemblies (another constitutional right) are not misjudged and publicly displayed to create more confusion and division, especially by the media and so-called movies stars? I refuse to be labeled, especially with such a hate-filled and inaccurate view of Conservatives such as that authored by Garofalo. Unlike Garofalo and Olbermann, I don't categorize them personally or hate them for being Liberals; I am just criticizing their judgment and prejudice in this particular case.

We’ve come a long way against racism in our society and still have a ways to go, however, since we do have an African-American President, let’s not turn everything into a racist commentary – Obama doesn’t — for which I admire him. Grow up Americans (or should I say Garofalo and Olbermann); we have more important things to do with regards to racism, resolving the evil within that controls the real racist!

Interesting bit of news came over my screen yesterday. Apparently she’s been invited to and may be attending the Dallas July 4th tea party.

I see riots…

Dave

Diane Branch

I’m suprised about Dave’s response. This read more like information that was filtered by a personal viewpoint – thus called an Opinion piece in the Blog Critics family rather than a skewed biased bit of propoganda. Riots? Certainly not based on this.

http://www.republicofdave.com Dave Nalle

Diane, I was referring to what might happen if Garofolo actually shows up at the Dallas Tea Party on the 4th.

And yes, this is an opinion piece, but if you watch the Garofalo video it’s hard not to react similarly.

Dave

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine Lakatos

Yeah, I was extremely offended by Garofalo and I had to tone it down a few times before my submission to Blog Critics. And, If she showed up at a Tea Party, well wouldn’t want to be there! LOL Guys

Mr. Dock Ellis

“let’s not turn everything into racist commentary- Obama doesn’t”

I have to disagree. Much of what Barrack Obama is about is playing the race card. He’s very clever about it. He joked about his race on the campaign trail. This allows him to bring it up. Then he implied McCain better not use the race card against him, implying that McCain is a racist just waiting for his chance. McCain said nothing and Obama smeared him anyway.

This man has been using race all along from affirmative action at Columbia and Harvard Law to his mentor Rev. Wright to sandbagging his own grandmother by saying “she’s no more racist than the average white person.” Come on. And this is a post-racial president? Baloney.

Janeane Garofalo was pretty good on that one Seinfeld episode, so I guess she does deserve to be taken seriously in the political realm.

I bet Dane Cook has some interesting political thoughts, too.

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine Lakatos

Hey Jordan, point well taken, however, I think these are opinions of more than just Garofalo. Plus it speaks volumes to the irresponsibility of MSNBC and celebrities that spread such nonsense. You never know who is watching and may believe the BS! Hey by the way I like Dane Cook, he is funny!

Jordan Richardson

If they are the opinions of more than just Garofalo, let’s air those out and let’s bring that discussion to the forefront and talk about why celebrities are given so much value in the political sphere. This article just seems to continue to promote the idea, giving her words more validity than they deserve.

If MSNBC wants to do that (I like Olbermann and MSNBC, so let’s get that out of the way right now), that’s their choice. It isn’t as though the other networks don’t do the same thing, as the spread of misinformation or “nonsense” on FOX is just as astounding and the celebrity worship (Chuck Norris? Chuck Norris?!) is similar, too.

I think Garofalo was trying to be shocking and possibly even trying to be funny. She doesn’t appear on these shows because she is well-informed or because she has a degree in political science or whatever. She appears because she’s “entertaining” and therefore expected to say or do something “entertaining.” That we sit here and ruminate over what she said simply speaks volumes about the desire to follow celebrity in America.

Up in Canada, if hockey players began to talk about Stephen Harper or something, we probably would laugh it off entirely.

http://www.republicofdave.com Dave Nalle

Garofolo has to get taken a little bit seriously because she has one of the few surviving left-leaning radio talk shows and people do listen to it and they take her at least as seriously as many on the right take Rush Limbaugh, even if they are smaller in number.

With a public platform for her opinions she influences others and presumably speaks for some of them as well, which suggests that this sort of bigotry is more widespread than we’d like to believe.

Dave

http://www.maskedmoviesnobs.com El Bicho

Why would you be “delighted and extremely moved that we finally elected an African-American for our President” if you “disagree with President Obama, not because of his skin color, but because of his policies”?

As phrased that makes absolutely no sense.

http://www.republicofdave.com Dave Nalle

Makes sense to me, EB. We can all embrace the concept of racial diversity in the White House in general. While some of us may feel less sanguine about the policies of this particular administration — having nothing to do with race.

Dave

http://www.maskedmoviesnobs.com El Bicho

btw, love the irony of extolling people in the media for using confusion and division matched with a book by Laura Ingraham, who does just that. Intentional?

Jordan Richardson

Janeane Garofalo still has a radio show, Dave? Last I heard she was off the air in 2006.

Bliffle

The article states:

“I am open-minded and I don’t always agree with my political party, thus I prefer to get the news and political commentaries from both sides (left and right—Liberal and Conservative). That way, I can form balanced opinions on issues (political or not) of the day.”

I’m going to argue against the strategy of reading both leftwing and rightwing sources to try to see The Truth and form your own opinions.

In fact, IMO I think that this strategy is BOUND to lead one into error.

IMO both left and right have vested interests in bashing each other, and thus they ferret out information with which to belabor the other side. Thus we learn a lot about what each dislikes of the other. But we usually (in my experience) learn little about the issues that can inform our own choices. It’s anti-liberals vs. anti-conservatives.

Do you suppose that by studying the Arctic and Antarctica that you would learn anything about the temperate zones or the equator? I don’t think so.

Right and left commentors WASTE all their time trying to ‘one-up’ each other, and refute the others argument, thus leaving things more uncertain than before, and the truth more difficult to discern.

Have you ever tried to use Photoshop (or some other such editing program) to correct a distorted picture? This is nigh impossible even with simple color distortion, to say nothing of spatial distortion. Just as “two wrongs do not make a right” so two distortions do not make it right.

And that leads a person down the wrong path in pursuit of Red Herrings: indeed, the Red Herrings were usually created by the commentors.

Even reading adversaries for citations (in those few occasions where provided) is a frustrating experience. Very often they are just political “echo chambers” that the opponents favor. Sometimes they even refute the advocates point!

So, I encourage you to cultivate your own sources, hopefully with accurate and impartial data. Opinions alone are useless, even when you access a universe of opinions.

http://www.republicofdave.com Dave Nalle

I didn’t realize she was off the air, Jordan. Air America as a whole went off the air here some time ago, so I’m not entirely in touch.

IMO she was one of the more listenable people on Air America from my limited exposure, if you could stand her views. Not as boring as Franken or as idiotic as Randi Rhodes.

Dave

Inquisitive

Where is the love?

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine Lakatos

Dave and Diane, thanks for understanding what I was trying to say in this article. I realized this article would generate some controversial commentary, however, IMO I don’t think ALL the news sources (whether right or left), are distorted. And I never stated that they are my ONLY source for gathering information. But I do appreciate your point, Bliffle. Where is the love? LOL

Bliffle

I’ll be interested in reading one of your articles when it’s not about the latest pissing contest between left and right entertainment stars.

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine Lakatos

Bliffle, I have one here on Blog Critics in the Sci Tech category that has nothing do with politics, movie stars, and the media. Diets: Hope or Hype?

Fernando Escobar

Is it me or do those BC Posters tilting to the left seem to be fixated and/or more focused on race than the more conservative posters?

Baronius

Fernando – heh. It’s not just on BC, either.

By the way, are you new to this site? If so, welcome aboard.

Hello also to Christine. It looks like this is your first Politics article. You and Fernando will find that we’re kind-hearted people who merely seek each other’s destruction.

http://drdreadful.blogspot.com Dr Dreadful

Fernando and Baronius:

And yet, what’s the declared political viewpoint of this article’s author?

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine Lakatos

Baronius, thanks for the warm welcome, however, not all comments are that warm! All Good though! LOL

Dr. Dreadful: are you asking me, the author of this article?

zingzing

fernando, it’s just you. everyone around here seems to be fixated on race. just go see the articles about the new scotus appointment.

christine, decent article, if a bit of hyperbolic frothing over something a little minor. there were, of course, some racists present at the tea-bagging ceremonies. it’s a given that racist republicans are going to be some of the most outspoken opponents of obama’s policies. (and there were plenty of them to see on television and in print, the ones with placards with “obama=islamofascism” or “hussein=fashionista is lambo turkey” or whatever.)

no one really thinks they were ALL racists, or anywhere near, not even ms. jg. however, they ALL must have flunked history if they think they were mimicking the original tea party in any way. they completely missed the point, or totally screwed it up. silly republicans.

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine Lakatos

Thanks zingzing, but do you really think the entire article is “deliberate and obvious exaggeration just for an effect”? I don’t think it is minor when Conservatives are labeled as racist, but then again I am one of the sensitive types. But maybe I shouldn’t be, considering the source– Stockholm Syndrome??

You may be right about the tea party statement: The Boston Tea Party had to do with the 1773 protest by colonists in Boston against the British government: the resistance to taxation of tea , but I thought is was a party in Boston! LOL

Arch Conservative

“no one really thinks they were ALL racists, or anywhere near, not even ms. jg. however,”

You must have missed it when she said “they’re all racists.” What happened Zing…did you get lost in Olbermann’s dreamy eyes while she was speaking?

Garofalo has a vendetta against the world because she had the misfortune to actually be born a heterosexual and that damn homely at the same time. I’m sure she’s dabbled in pillow biting but it’s not her natural tendency most lesbians likely find her as unappealing as most straight men. If only she could have been born with more of the “androgenous Maddow” look she might get a little lovin. But alas she is destined for the life of a lonely angry hag.

zingzing

archie: “You must have missed it when she said “they’re all racists.””

“Garofalo has a vendetta against the world because she had the misfortune to actually be born a heterosexual and that damn homely at the same time.”

So you’re saying her problem is that she needs to get laid?

Just kidding. I agree with Christine on much of her “opinion”. I’m a disenfranchised one-time hippie liberal turned fiscal conservative. Both major parties and their cheerleaders make me want to vomit, or move to Australia. “Entertainers” like Garofalo are welcome to voice their opinion, and conversely so am I. That’s what makes America, or made it in the past. But to me, her statements came off as brittle and she looked like a left-wing nut job.

Clavos

…she looked like a left-wing nut job.

Probably (and I’m just guessing here) because she is one.

http://www.republicofdave.com Dave Nalle

Garofalo has a vendetta against the world because she had the misfortune to actually be born a heterosexual and that damn homely at the same time.

I always thought she was kind of cute, at least so long as she keeps her mouth shut.

Dave

zingzing

put a cock in it, dave.

(it’s a joke, see–i replaced the “r” with a “c” and it got all dirty!)

http://theugliestamerican.blogspot.com Andy Marsh

I watch MSNBC just so I know all the lies Fox is telling me. How else would I know if Matthews, Olbermann and Maddow didn’t tell me all the bad things that O’Reilly, Hannity and the evil Rupert Murdoch are doing!

Actually, I do watch MSNBC in the morning. I think Morning Joe is easily the best morning news program out there. And it is the only balanced news program on MSNBC.

it’s kind of difficult to watch a news program that does nothing but spew hatred of the right and from 7PM until 11PM that’s all MSNBC does Monday through Friday. News to them seems to only deal with what the right is doing.

And lastly I’ll say that labelling Garafalo a comedienne is really stretching the definition!

Baronius

“everyone around here seems to be fixated on race. just go see the articles about the new scotus appointment.”

Not so, Zing. There would have been the same reaction if Sonya Sottermeyer talked about German superiority at an Ein Volk rally.

Zedd

Christine,

I also am against everything being labeled as racist. Phantom racism occurs regularly and I abhor it. But from reading our article, its apparent that you don’t really understand the depth of racism. The visceral response that was displayed was not about taxes. These folks are not scholars on the tax code. The level of anger that was expressed comes from something deeper. It’s fear. Not a rational fear that comes from a real and present danger. It’s a fear of calamity. Not higher taxes.

You cant really stamp out racism until you understand the depths at which it is ingrained into our world view as a nation.

I’m not sure if you are a perceptive person or not, but what I witnessed were people who were not making a commentary on policy. I think you missed it.

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine Lakatos

Wow, I go away for a while to write another piece for Blog Critics, Bill Maher and his movie Religulous, and find some interesting comments. Glad to see this is a topic worth visiting! Zedd, I did witness, as I stated in the article, there were racists at the tax event. But do you really think ALL of them were racists? Was it in the subconscious? My view on racism is that early on in my childhood I inherently knew it was wrong and stood up against it, even with my family and so-called friends. You state that it is in the fiber of our nation, so what can we do about it? Maybe I am naive, but I think things are improving, however, we have a long way to go to abolish this evil. You sound very pessimistic, is there no cure?

Clavos

If racism were as ubiquitous as zedd alleges it is, Obama would not be sleeping in the WH.

http://takeitorleaveit.typepad.com/ roger nowosielski

#37 –

Wrong! By your own admission, Obama garnered no more than 26 percent of the vote. I’ll throw in another 14 percent for good measure. So it still leaves close to 60 percent who could be racists. The silent majority.

Maurice

Well written article, Christine.

Since I don’t watch TV anymore I had to look up Keith Olberman and discovered nobody watches his show. His ratings are dead last. I would post the link but I don’t think links work here anymore? It is interesting to note that Keith and Janeane both have careers in the toilet and can only get attention by behaving badly.

Maurice, thanks for the comments and update on Keith and Janeane! I will have to check out the link! Wonder of Rachel Maddow is doing! Roger, was wondering how you do add links here on BC, I’m kind of new!

Jeannie Danna

like this?

http://takeitorleaveit.typepad.com/ roger nowosielski

#42,

I was only playing the numbers game (just as you do when you say time and again that Obama’s base of support doesn’t go beyond twenty six percent or something.) Heck, I even threw in fourteen percent for good measure – tell you what – let’s make it fifty-fifty to satisfy the skeptics.

So where does it leaves us. Theoretically, half the country could conceivably be racist. The point really is that there is no difference between arguing for Obama’s lack of support in general elections, on the one hand, and arguing that the majority of Americans are not racists – not on statistical grounds.

I’m not saying ’tis so, only that you have to provide a better reason to the contrary than the one you utilized when arguing for Obama’s lack of popular support.

And insofar as assumptions are concerned, the argument you utilized assumed that those who did not vote for Obama did so because they were against him – which makes us even.

And if so, why? Is it, perhaps, that they’re racists? I’m not saying that, mind you, only addressing the form of the argument.

http://theugliestamerican.blogspot.com Andy Marsh

Why does Clavos have to provide a better example, no one seems to require that from the other side of hte argument.

Is it safe to say that every black person that ever protested against bush or clinton or the other bush or reagan or any of the other 40 some white presidents are all racists?

Maurice, comment 39 – If you ever did watch him, you’d know why he’s dead last. He doesn’t report the news, he reports on Foxnews. He whines about talking heads on one other network. I would not be stretching the truth to say that Keith spends at least half of every show bitching about what FoxNews is doing. He has nothing to say about any other news channel.

He does this stupid little thing at the end of his show, “the worst people in the world” and on any given day at least two of them are from Fox.

http://takeitorleaveit.typepad.com/ roger nowosielski

Andy,

All I’m saying here is that Clavos’s “claim” that Obama commands no more than twenty six percent of the voting public is no different from his denying the claim that the remainder (namely, seventy four percent) is not racist – not if you consider the statistical argument alone. (And his argument, thus far, was only a numbers argument.)

As to “reverse-racism,” sure it exists. Notice, however, that initially at least, Hillary was poised to receive a great bulk of the black vote until Bill Clinton’s gaffe right after New Hampshire.

http://theugliestamerican.blogspot.com Andy Marsh

I’m not sure if I like that term, reverse racism. Isn’t racism, just racism?

Honestly, I’ve said this before. I have a cousin out in AZ that’s married to a black guy. When I lived out there, Shelly and I were always together. We played golf at least twice a week.

One of my neighbors, a good ole boy from Arkansas asked me one day what I would do if one of my daughters dated outside her race. They were young then, about 13 and 9 I think and I honestly hadn’t thought about it until he asked me. I called up my buddy and asked him the question. He said, outside their race? You mean like a pig or a horse or something?

Up until that point, I don’t think I had ever loked at it the way Shelly did. You know, we are all part of the HUMAN RACE. Aren’t we?

I mean really, wouldn’t reverse racism be like the total opposite of racism? Something like…I dunno…Harmony?

I don’t think I’ve ever heard this question answered honestly. How many people voted for Obama for no other reason than the color of his skin? I’d bet the numbers are about equal. The same number that voted against him because of the color of his skin voted for him because of the color of his skin.

http://takeitorleaveit.typepad.com/ roger nowosielski

I have no stake in the expression, Andy. And yes, racism is racism.

Jordan Richardson

Andy,

The “worst person in the world” is shtick. That’s why he does the stupid voices. Olbermann may dedicate some of his time (it isn’t half the show, I watch him frequently) to FOX and the like, but FOX hits right back too. It’s idiotic and immature, but I think FOX deserves the examination and criticism. Besides, he dedicates WAAAY more time to Rush (Mr. Bouncy-Bounce).

At least his show isn’t a shout-a-thon that ends with the “host” having his guest’s mic shut off.

Look, I get it: he’s another liberal with an attitude and a bias. But at least he has a damn sense of humour, which is more than I can say for most of the other pundits.

http://theugliestamerican.blogspot.com Andy Marsh

Jordan – I’d have never guessed that you watch MSNBC! I’d say his entire show is shtick! Actually, another word beginning with “sh” comes to mind…

…I got in a lot of trouble in 1st grade in catholic school writing that one on the playground blacktop. Funny thing was, when they asked me how I knew how to spell it, I was a proud little 6 year old. I told the nun, I sounded it out!

He has a sense of humor?…guess I’m just to stupid to get his jokes! I never seem to get Mahars’ jokes either!

If you watch him frequently, how would you know what the other guys are talking about? Oh yeah, that’s right, Keith keeps you informed!

Clavos

All I’m saying here is that Clavos’s “claim” that Obama commands no more than twenty six percent of the voting public is no different from his denying the claim that the remainder (namely, seventy four percent) is not racist – not if you consider the statistical argument alone. (And his argument, thus far, was only a numbers argument.)

I didn’t claim that the 74% were not racist, I disputed your claim that they all ARE.

My claim, as you put it, is based on real, verifiable data.

Yours is pure speculation.

http://takeitorleaveit.typepad.com/ roger nowosielski

I never claimed they are! And my inference as to the possibility they are is of no lesser value that your inference to the effect that Obama’s base of support was no greater than that reflected by the popular vote.

But I’m yielding henceforth to a greater mind.

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine

Racism is racism…straight up! “According to Webster, racism is a belief that some races are by nature superior to others. Racism is also discrimination based on such belief.”

http://www.maskedmoviesnobs.com El Bicho

Maurice, Janeane just had a recurring role on the hit show 24 and recently voiced a character in a Pixar film. How exactly is her career in the toilet because the producers obviously disagree?

Also, while your link does show Keith had his worst ratings of 2009 in May nowhere does it state he is in dead last, which is probably because he is not if you bothered to check the nightly ratings.

Andy, if you don’t think Keith doing an imitation of Ted Baxter when he talks as O’Reilly is funny, then I would have to agree with your self-assessment.

Also, it’s easy for someone who watches Keith to know what the FOX guys say because they repeat the shows throughout the night or you can catch clips on the Internet. You know, that thing you are using right now to access this site.

Maurice

Clavos #42

you are right – I did not vote for Obama. I almost always vote libertarian. If there is no Libertarian I vote against the incumbent. That is not to say I wasn’t strongly drawn to Obama. I went to see him when he was here in Boise Idaho. He is a very good speaker. Something I always abhorred about George Bush.

My link snafu was related to a copy/paste error. I do wish BC still had the preview function.

Clavos

I do wish BC still had the preview function.

You’re not alone, Maurice. On this point at least, both sides of the aisle seem to agree.

Maurice

Andy #48

as I stated I don’t have a TV so I am unfamiliar with these people. I base all my info on the

Maurice, you may want to read what you are linking to because it in no way supports your assertion and posting it twice doesn’t change that.

TVbytheNumbers shows ratings from Mon thru Wed of June and shows Olbermann only behind O’Reilly in cable news at 8pm all three nights.

Please explain how that’s “in the toilet”.

Clavos

TVbytheNumbers shows ratings from Mon thru Wed of June and shows Olbermann only behind O’Reilly in cable news at 8pm all three nights.

At least Olbermann has a lot of company. All the cable news shows are behind O’Reilly.

Clavos

That’s why they all gun for him.

“It’s lonely at the top.”

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine

OK, what’s all the bickering about? Keith Olbermann? Olbermann just countdowns how many people he hates! I don’t know how they can classify that as news! They should call it “Odium with Keith Olbermann”, included with a “hate scale”, so we can see how he really feels!

Bliffle

Amazing that anyone cares about Oreilly or Olberman. Amazing.

Jordan Richardson

Olbermann just countdowns how many people he hates!

Let’s talk about hate, just for a second.

Explain to me how you can consider Keith Olbermann’s “obnoxious” rants more obnoxious and more hate-filled than the following remarks and rants from the FOX and Co. crowd:

If I’m the president of the United States, I walk right into Union Square, I set up my little presidential podium, and I say, ‘Listen, citizens of San Francisco, if you vote against military recruiting, you’re not going to get another nickel in federal funds. Fine. You want to be your own country? Go right ahead. And if Al Qaeda comes in here and blows you up, we’re not going to do anything about it. We’re going to say, look, every other place in America is off limits to you, except San Francisco. You want to blow up the Coit Tower? Go ahead.’ Bill-O, November 2005.

Shut up! Bill-O, countless times.

Then there’s the time Bill-O threatened a boycott against “Canada” and another one against “France” and another one against Pepsi. And let’s no forget that he supported his “France” boycott by saying it was “working” after quoting a fictional publication to a guest.

When I see a 9/11 victim family on television, or whatever, I’m just like, ‘Oh shut up’ I’m so sick of them because they’re always complaining. Glenn Beck, 2005.

I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today. Glenn Beck on the California fires in 2007.

Can you let your son’s body become the same temperature as your son’s head before you turn this into a political campaign against the president? Could you do that? Glenn Beck on Michael Berg, the father of murdered Nick Berg (who was beheaded in Iraq)

You pinhead. You think we would actually be sitting here and saying “well, look at the way she was dressed?” If she were Joan McCain, stop it. You self-centered self-righteous socialist out of control dangerous man-hating bitch. Shut your mouth. We might have bought into this crap in the 1960s because too many people were doing LSD. We’re not on LSD anymore — we need to start making sense. Glenn Beck in March of 2008.

I’ll tell you who should be tortured and killed at Guantanamo: every filthy Democrat in the U.S. Congress. Sean Hannity, June 15 2005

Shall I go on? Can anyone supply me one quotation or excerpt from Olbermann or Maddow that even comes close to the aforementioned sleaze in terms of obnoxiousness and hatred? Christine? Your call…

Clavos

Which is exactly why Olbermann and Maddow lose the ratings race to O’Reilly.

“No one in this world, so far as I know…has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people.”

Jordan, I’m not following you here. Isn’t Bill O’Reilly some sort of democrat? I’d always assumed he was based on his positions.

Dave

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine

Jordan, I only mentioned Olbermann and it is obvious by his format, WTF moment, the Worst Person in the World, the bouncing Limbaugh, and making fun (in a mean and degrading way) of regular people that he doesn’t like. Plus take at look at who he chooses on his show (all with the same agenda), and how much time he spends on bashing and competing with FOX news. Add in his double standards and his bitter tone. Does that promote love? Is that even news at all?

Side Note, I do like Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper.

That being said, I never stated that the right doesn’t have its hate-mongers. Both the left and the right have their share and it’s really sad and pathetic. Where’s the news in all of it? News has become competing Opinions Shows.

Baronius

“Liberals read almost exclusively liberal blogs, but conservatives tend to read both”, according to an Ohio State study. The article goes through pains to assure the reader that conservatives aren’t more open-minded, though. Admittedly, this is a small study, but the results are interesting.

http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos-/ Christine

Thanks for the info, Baronius. I heard that today on Glenn Beck.

http://www.maskedmoviesnobs.com El Bicho

I read the article. It was conducted on college students over a five-minute period. Not really a thorough study.